[Electoro-surgical device].

Electro-surgical device is an essential instrument for bloodless surgery after the 1st introduction by Harvey Cushing in 1926. Basal mechanisms of electric scalpels (monopolar and bipolar), current waveforms (cut, coagulation and blend), high-frequency currents and electrical shocks were commented. After 1990s, several new electro-surgical devices such as argon beam coagulator, bipolar scissors and vessel sealing system (LigaSure) were developed and introduced in chest surgery. Argon beam coagulator is useful in sealing and hemostasis of bleeding from chest walls after extrapleural dissections. Bipolar scissors can seal small vessels less than diameter 2 mm and is useful in mediastinal lymphnode dissections. Vessel sealing system is able to seal and cut vessels up to diameter 7 mm. LigaSure V is the most suitable instrument for thymic vein handling in thoracoscopic thymectomy. Clinical applications of these new surgical devices in chest surgery are discussed.